1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius Gen3 P0A80 can I continue to drive on gas endlessly?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Nir44, Oct 18, 2022.

  1. Nir44

    Nir44 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2022
    6
    1
    0
    Location:
    Israel
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hello my prius gen 3 have a battery hybrid malfunction I would like to know if I can continue to drive on gas only for 1 or 2 years ? (Without replacing the hybrid battery)
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    unfortunately, the hybrid battery turns over the engine to start it. at some point, you will have to repair/replace
     
  3. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2009
    1,389
    947
    4
    Location:
    Foot of Pikes Peak
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    And you would have hardly any acceleration since the electric motors provide the torque necessary when speeding up and going up hill.
     
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The P0A80 code allows the car to continue to drive normally. Once the car decides which of the individual modules is failing, it will provide an additional code, and will put the car into limp mode. People have continued driving for many months merely by resetting the code as needed. The code may clear short term, but the problem doesn't go away and will continue to get worse until the time comes that it can't be reset.
     
  5. Nir44

    Nir44 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2022
    6
    1
    0
    Location:
    Israel
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What is limp mode ?
     
  6. Nir44

    Nir44 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2022
    6
    1
    0
    Location:
    Israel
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What do you mean turns over the engine isn't that the role of the 12v battery?
     
    bisco likes this.
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    not in a prius. the 12v only boots up the computers and closes relays to make the car 'ready'. the eCVT is connected to the engine and the hybrid battery powers the electric propulsion motors to spin the engine countless times as you're driving.
     
    mollymudpie likes this.
  8. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,133
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Huh? As far as the context of starting the engine while the car is parked, that happens when the hybrid battery powers one of the two electric motors to crank the engine. (Starting the engine while the car is rolling with engine stopped is a little more complicated.)
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    exactly
     
    m.wynn likes this.
  10. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Explanation without the white lab coat with protective googles on...the hybrid battery starts the gas engine. Once the hybrid battery is dead, you will no longer be able to start the car.
     
  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    When you try merge on to highways and slam the accelerator, you’ll be smooth sailing at 25 mph and no faster. At least you’ll be saving a lot of gas.
     
  12. sharpdoug

    sharpdoug Tig

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2005
    16
    7
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    If you’re keeping the car-I just replaced the NiMH battery with the Li ion from NeoPower. Way cheaper than the Toyota NiMH and comes with a 2 year warranty. Better acceleration and better fuel mileage simple installation and half the weight. I’m only suggesting this because driving on the engine only seems like a bad idea.
     
    mollymudpie likes this.
  13. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2020
    342
    148
    0
    Location:
    iowa
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    eventually your bad modules will have a thermal event. maybe just a simple melt, or a little fire, or maybe an explosion. keep us posted
     
  14. ammdb

    ammdb Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2019
    263
    106
    1
    Location:
    Indianapolis
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Limp mode happens when a fault (like overheating due to unbalanced modules) causes the car to give up on the main traction battery. When this happens the gas engine revs constantly to generate the electrical power that otherwise would be coming from the battery. It's like the little donut spare tire, good enough to get the car in to be serviced, but not intended for normal driving.
     
    #14 ammdb, Oct 29, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2022
  15. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2009
    1,389
    947
    4
    Location:
    Foot of Pikes Peak
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    The guy is in Israel and wants to keep going at a low cost for a year or two. While replacing cells or a putting in a "reconditioned" battery is not ideal, in this case it might be the best choice.